The Peninsula Chicago

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

“Loved this Chicago stay! Visiting on business, The Peninsula had everything I could have wanted in a city hotel: outstanding service, convenient location, technologically equipped guestrooms, and a wonderful spa and fitness center for a few hours of ‘me time.’ The entire hotel staff went out of their way to ensure I had the best stay possible – a great feeling when traveling for business. Such a pleasant experience, I will surely return on my next trip to the windy city.”
- Trusted Friend: Louise Loia, Greenwich, CT(Date experienced: May 2012)

Great for
A business stay or leisurely visit – this is the ultimate in urban convenience!

With whom
Business associate, friends, family, solo, a loved one...

Memorable moment
Returning to my room after a full day of work was always a treat. Housekeeping somehow managed to make my room look immaculate... beautifully coiled iPhone charger, shoes lined up in clean rows, toiletries neatly arranged with the labels facing out, towels refreshed, slippers by the bed, ice bucket filled, water on the nightstand... sigh. For a neat freak like I am, it was just perfection!

Best time to go
Autumn: for the best weather and minimal crowds. Spring can be nice as well, but sometimes rainy. Avoid the hot, humid summers and bitter cold winters.

Be aware
The room décor may seem a little passé, but the technology, comfort and space more than make up for it.

Room options
Classically furnished guestrooms and suites offer plenty of space, good-sized bathrooms and heavenly beds – I mean, seriously comfy. Accommodations are all “tech-ed out” with a bedside command station that controls the lights, television, room temperature, do not disturb signal, etc. It even tells you the temperature outside, which can be helpful when getting dressed in the morning. Room options include the Superior Room, Deluxe Room, Grand Deluxe Room, Executive Suite, Junior Suite, Deluxe Suite, Grand Deluxe Suite, Grand Suite, and The Peninsula Suite. I’d recommend the recently updated Grand Deluxe Suites, which have some of the best views in the hotel.

Service & vibe
Comfortable and welcoming vibe, marked by exceptional service – eleven out of ten! Suite guests are given complimentary bespoke Mini-Cooper S vehicles for up to three hours – with chauffer!

Food
A number of options here – Shanghai Terrace is excellent for Shanghainese and Cantonese food, with both indoor and outdoor seating; Pierrot Gourmet is a European-style café that serves up delicious light fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner; The Lobby is great for all-day dining, featuring new vegan and gluten-free menus for those with eating restrictions. Sunday brunch and afternoon tea in the Lobby are also quite nice. Lookout for Avenues to re-open sometime this year...

Price per night
Starting at $450

To Do & See
Chicago is such a wonderful city, so much to do: taste the most fantastic popcorn EVER, at Garrett Popcorn Shops, take a Chicago’s First Lady boat tour to get the best views of the city, watch the Lyric Opera of Chicago at the Civic Opera House. And to see: The Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Millennium Park, Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio, Lake Michigan Shore.

Spa & Grooming
The hotel’s spa by ESPA is a lovely escape from the city below. Peaceful ambience, luxurious treatments, outdoor sundeck – it’s an overall soothing experience. And if you ever need to give a gift to a friend in the area, the spa gift certificates are the perfect present for any Chicago resident. I had the “non-surgical” facelift using the CACI technique. One needs a course of many to see a result, but I was happy to discover it here first!

To Eat
Lots of fabulous eats in this city, but if you have one night out I’d highly recommend RL – Ralph Lauren’s first restaurant. A see and be seen type of place, RL is very posh and ultra clubby. It feels like dining in a Ralph Lauren store – and really, what could be better than that? I just love the atmosphere and the food is so tasty! A Chicago must, in my opinion.

To Buy
The hotel is located right on the “Magnificent Mile” – a shopper’s haven. You can’t go wrong walking along Michigan Avenue, with everything from Chanel and Louis Vuitton to Topshop and Forever 21.

Itinerary Idea
Try Chocolate at The Pen. Every Friday and Saturday night from 8:30 pm to midnight, the lobby is transformed into a spectacular chocolate bar. For $50 you get a chocolate martini or glass of champagne and unlimited samplings of the hotel’s chocolate delicacies, ranging from chocolate-covered strawberries to chocolate crème brulee. A jazz trio plays in the background while you indulge chocolatey sweets.

Where
108 East Superior Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611

Getting there
Getting to the Peninsula can take 30 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic and weather. For additional cost, the hotel can provide a car to take you to and from the airport.